Iguanas affair: Neal and Della off the hook

What was agreed is that I would attend counselling to learn how to deal better with people. That I have done. The reason that I undertook counselling was to ensure that matters could move on and that we could deal properly with the important issues

It's official - Belinda Neal and John Della Bosca did nothing
wrong in the eyes of the law during and after the Iguanas incident
on June 6.

It is understood the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions,
Nicholas Cowdery, has this afternoon told police no charges against
either Ms Neal or Mr Della Bosca would be likely to result in a
successful prosecution.

"In relation to Ms Neal, MP, I advise that in my view there is
insufficient evidence to support any criminal charge against NSW
law," Mr Cowdery said.

"In relation to Mr Della Bosca, MLC, I also advise that in my
view there is insufficient evidence to support any criminal charges
against NSW law.

"In relation to other persons I advise that there is
insufficient evidence to support any criminal charges against NSW
law."

With those three paragraphs Mr Cowdery might have put a full
stop at the end of a long and damaging story for the NSW Labor
Government.

His announcement came a few hours after the Commonwealth
Director of Public Prosecutions also advised no charges were likely
to succeed.

After the announcement, Ms Neal told reporters in Canberra:
"Today's announcement proves that I did nothing wrong. It
vindicates my previous statements to the media, to the parliament,
and to the constituents of Robertson.

"I was telling the truth. I did nothing wrong. I did not swear,
I did not threaten anyone's job, and I did not use or misuse my
position as an MP.''

She said the investigation into the incident had been exhaustive
and she had cooperated fully.

"I did not attempt to cover up anything during the course of the
investigation into this matter,'' she said. "I provided a 15-page
statement to the police and cooperated fully with its
investigation, which included providing an interview when
requested.

"While I never expected any other outcome than the one outlined
... today - which has totally vindicated me - I am glad it's over
and we can now move on.''

Ms Neal again rejected allegations that she had pressured her
former electoral assistant, Melissa Batten, to change her statutory
declaration about what occurred that night.

"I don't intend to make any comments at this time about the
details and ins and outs of what has been alleged by the media,''
she said.

Ms Neal said she believed she had the full backing the Labor
party and her constituents.

"I am confident that I will be the candidate for Robinson at the
next election and that I have the full support of the people of
Robinson and the ALP,'' she said.

The MP said she had undergone counselling after being ordered to
do so by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, but said it had not been for
anger management.

"There was never any discussion about anger management or
agreement between myself and the prime minister. That is a creation
of the media,'' she said.

"What was agreed is that I would attend counselling to learn how
to deal better with people. That I have done.

"The reason that I undertook counselling was to ensure that
matters could move on and that we could deal properly with the
important issues, which is the parliamentary agenda of this
government.''

It is three months since Ms Neal was accused of using her
position as a federal parliamentarian to threaten Iguanas's licence
and demand people be sacked.

The incident had begun as a 49th birthday party for a member of
Ms Neal's Gosford electorate office staff, Christine Calbert.

Ms Neal, Mr Della Bosca and six others attended Ms Calbert's
dinner.

While six people were outside, Iguanas staff member Tom Crocker
approached Ms Neal, Mr Della Bosca and staffer Melissa Batten and
asked them to move to an outside table as the area was about to
become a nightclub.

An argument ensued, with staff alleging a physically and
verbally aggressive Ms Neal had threatened their jobs and the
business's licence.

Ms Neal and Mr Della Bosca maintained they had acted
properly.

It was also alleged Ms Neal followed the Iguanas operations
manager Jared Golla into a private area and threatened his job as
well.

In a statutory declaration signed that night, Mr Golla said he
asked Ms Neal to leave the premises or he would call the
police.

According to his declaration, she responded: "I don't care if
you call the police. Don't you know who I am?"

The publicity over the controversy was fuelled when it was
revealed that an apology issued by Iguanas management was penned by
Mr Della Bosca's office.